S. 1216: Taiwan Allies Fund Act
Sponsor
Chris Van Hollen
Democrat · MD
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Feb 10, 2026
Placed on Senate floor schedule under General Orders. Calendar No. 321.
Congress wants to help Taiwan keep its allies
Why it matters
11 countries cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan between 2013 and 2024, according to the bill’s findings. S. 1216 answers that trend with up to $120,000,000 over 3 years for countries that keep ties with Taiwan or deepen unofficial ones despite pressure from the People’s Republic of China.
S. 1216 creates a new U.S. fund for countries that support Taiwan and then face pressure for it. The bill’s findings cite Taiwan as a democracy of more than 23,000,000 people and say 11 countries switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to the People’s Republic of China between 2013 and 2024.
The money is targeted, not unlimited. Congress would authorize $40,000,000 a year for 2026, 2027, and 2028, for a total of $120,000,000 if fully funded. No country could get more than $5,000,000 in a single year, so even at the cap this program would have to spread support across at least 8 country-slots over 3 years.
To qualify, a country has to meet all three tests. It must keep official ties with Taiwan or meaningfully strengthen unofficial ones, face pressure from the People’s Republic of China because of that relationship, and lack the political or economic ability to respond on its own.
The bill gives the State Department broad options for how to use the money. It could fund health projects, support independent media and civil society, help countries move supply chains away from the People’s Republic of China, offer alternatives to Chinese financing, support Taiwan’s participation in international groups, or back non-Chinese telecom and tech infrastructure.
The bill also says Taiwan should help carry the load. The State Department would be expected to press relevant Taiwan parties to provide comparable support, then report back to Congress on how much Taiwan contributed and whether that contribution matched U.S. efforts.
S. 1216 Bill Summary
What S. 1216 actually does.
$120,000,000 for countries under pressure over Taiwan
S. 1216 authorizes $40,000,000 a year for 2026 through 2028 from the Countering PRC Influence Fund, for up to $120,000,000 total if Congress fully funds it.
No country gets more than $5,000,000 a year
The bill caps support at $5,000,000 per country per fiscal year, which spreads the fund across multiple countries instead of concentrating it in one place.
Only countries facing Taiwan-related pressure qualify
A country must have ties with Taiwan, face pressure from the People’s Republic of China because of those ties, and lack the political or economic capacity to push back without U.S. help.
Funds can back media, health, supply chains, and tech alternatives
Money could support health projects, civil society and media, supply chain diversification, alternatives to Chinese financing, Taiwan’s participation in international bodies, and non-Chinese communications infrastructure.
State leads, with USAID and the American Institute in Taiwan
The Secretary of State would run the program in consultation with USAID, the American Institute in Taiwan, and other federal agencies.
Taiwan is expected to share the cost
The bill says the State Department should tell relevant Taiwan parties to provide commensurate assistance, then report to Congress on how much Taiwan contributed.
Congress gets annual scorecards for 3 years
Within 1 year of enactment, and annually for the next 2 years, the State Department would have to report funding amounts, goals, outcomes, and Taiwan’s share of support.
Who benefits from S. 1216?
Countries that still officially recognize Taiwan
Governments that keep formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan could get up to $5,000,000 a year if they are facing pressure from the People’s Republic of China and cannot absorb it alone.
Countries expanding unofficial ties with Taiwan
S. 1216 is not limited to formal allies. Countries that deepen unofficial relations with Taiwan could also qualify, which gives governments room to move closer to Taiwan without first making a full diplomatic break.
Taiwan’s shrinking circle of partners
The bill is designed to slow further diplomatic losses after 11 countries cut ties with Taiwan between 2013 and 2024, according to the bill’s findings.
Independent media, civil society, and local institutions
The fund can pay for resilience projects inside eligible countries, including support for media and nongovernmental groups the bill says are vulnerable to influence and propaganda from the People’s Republic of China.
Who is affected by S. 1216?
The State Department
State would have to decide which countries qualify, coordinate projects with USAID and the American Institute in Taiwan, encourage Taiwan to contribute, and send annual reports to Congress.
Taiwan officials and related institutions
The bill does not legally force Taiwan to match U.S. aid, but it says the State Department should push for comparable assistance and publicly assess whether Taiwan’s contribution was commensurate.
Countries seeking Chinese financing or infrastructure
Eligible governments could be offered alternatives to development financing, health projects, and communications infrastructure tied to the People’s Republic of China.
The People’s Republic of China
The bill is aimed at countries the bill says face coercion or pressure from the People’s Republic of China because of ties with Taiwan, and it funds alternatives to Chinese influence in those places.
Cost & Funding
Authorization
$40,000,000 a year for 2026, 2027, and 2028
- If Congress fully funds all 3 years, the total authorization is $120,000,000.
- Each country is capped at $5,000,000 per fiscal year.
- At the annual cap, $40,000,000 could cover up to 8 countries in a single year.
- Money comes from the Countering PRC Influence Fund.
- Funds stay available until spent.
- The bill says this new fund would not limit other U.S. foreign assistance outside the program.
S1216 Legislative Journey
Committee Action
Feb 10, 2026
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Passed Committee
Jan 29, 2026
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee Action
Mar 31, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
About the Sponsor
Chris Van Hollen
Democrat, MD · 23 years in Congress
Committees: Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Foreign Relations, the Budget
View full profile →
Cosponsors (3)
This bill has 3 cosponsors: 2 Democrats, 1 Republican, reflecting bipartisan support. Cosponsors represent 3 states: Colorado, New Jersey, Utah.
Committee Sponsors
Foreign Relations Committee
1 of 22 committee members cosponsored
10 Democrats across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
S. 1216 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Foreign Relations
- Chamber
- Senate
- Policy
- International Affairs
- Introduced
- Mar 31, 2025
Placed on Senate floor schedule under General Orders. Calendar No. 321.
Feb 10, 2026
Official Sources
Official Congress.gov page for the Taiwan Allies Fund Act with bill text, status, and related actions.
State Department background page explaining official U.S. policy and relations with Taiwan, central to the bill’s purpose.
The bill expressly ties implementation authorities to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, making this the core statutory reference for how funds could be administered.
The bill’s findings cite the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 as a foundation for U.S. policy toward Taiwan.
The bill’s findings directly reference the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative Act of 2019.
Relevant to the bill’s goal of advancing Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international fora and multilateral organizations.
S. 1216 Common Questions
How much money does S. 1216 provide?
S. 1216 authorizes $40,000,000 a year for 2026, 2027, and 2028, for up to $120,000,000 total if Congress fully funds it.
Who can get money under S. 1216?
Countries that keep official ties with Taiwan or meaningfully strengthen unofficial ties can qualify if they also face PRC pressure because of that relationship and cannot respond effectively on their own.
Does a country need formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan to qualify?
No. S. 1216 also covers countries that have meaningfully strengthened unofficial relations with Taiwan, as long as they meet the other eligibility tests.
Is there a limit on how much one country can receive?
Yes. The bill caps aid at $5,000,000 per country per fiscal year, so the fund is meant to be spread across multiple partners.
What can the money be used for?
The fund could support health projects, independent media and civil society, supply chain shifts away from the PRC, alternatives to Chinese financing, Taiwan’s international participation, and non-PRC tech infrastructure.
Does S. 1216 require Taiwan to match U.S. funding?
Not formally. The bill says the State Department should tell relevant Taiwan parties to provide commensurate assistance, then report to Congress on what Taiwan contributed.
Why does the bill say this fund is needed?
The bill’s findings cite 11 countries that switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to the PRC between 2013 and 2024, and say other countries have faced pressure over ties with Taiwan.
Who would run the program and report back to Congress?
The Secretary of State would lead it with USAID, the American Institute in Taiwan, and other agencies. Reports would start within 1 year of enactment and continue annually for 2 more years.
Based on S. 1216 bill text
S. 1216 Bill Text
“To support Taiwan's international space, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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